Car Tech

Much of the technology used in modern automobiles, or in the development of modern automobiles, can be repurposed for the betterment of society. That was the concept behind Toyota’s “Ideas For Good” challenge, which gave entrants the ability to use five Toyota-developed...

The 2011 Audi A7 might be big but it isn't particularly heavy for its size. Weighing in at around 3,900 pounds it's around 300 pounds lighter than its rival the BMW 5-Series GT despite the Quattro drivetrain. You can thank the part aluminum construction for that. Still, it could be lighter. And...

General Motors has made huge inroads in China, and now, those inroads have grown a bit wider: yesterday at the 2011 Shanghai Auto Show, GM launched its smartphone app for China's OnStar subscribers. The OnStar app for Chinese drivers is nearly identical to the one that subscribers in North America...

While stock Chrysler 300 sedans ride with V-6 or HEMI power, and the new 2012 SRT8 storms along with 465 hp, there's only one new Chrysler powered by rap. At the 2011 New York auto show, Chrysler's peeling back the covers from its new 300S, which strips off the chrome and wood and layers in some...

Electric vehicles and other alt-fuel rides are big news these days. Tech fans and green enthusiasts can't wait to get their hands on 'em, while others think that hybrids and their eco-friendly kin are part of a vast communist conspiracy. No matter where you fall on that spectrum, there are many...

The Volkswagen New Beetle has had a good life - launched in 1998, it's carried on for the past thirteen years virtually unchanged. Okay, so that's not quite as impressive as the original, known variously as the Volkswagen, Type 1, Beetle, Bug, Käfer and many more names throughout the world...

The future is full of powerplant possibilities - efficient gasoline and clean diesel, hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells and pure electric - but we don't yet have the technology to power a car using cold fusion, à la 'Doc' Brown's DeLorean in the Back To The Future trilogy. We can replicate the...

To gearheads, the turbulent times Swedish carmaker Saab is facing really pulls at the heart strings. It's one of an elite group of makers that real car enthusiasts like to know is around, even if they wouldn't buy the products themselves. Having had its personality and vitality steadily eroded...

Everyone knows that distracted driving is a big problem on the roads these days. U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood focuses most of his energy on combating the dangers of texting and driving -- presumably because it's more common with younger, less-experienced drivers -- but in fact, there...

Home of the Ultimate Driving Machine and bringer of Joy to drivers, BMW has revealed its latest powerplant and to the casual observer or diehard enthusiast neither corporate phrase sits very easily with the new engine. The reason? It's a 3-cylinder, and it's low capacity. Buyers in Europe are used...

If you’ve ever had a car broken into or stolen, you know the sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. Maybe you even blame yourself for parking in a remote corner of the lot (to avoid door dings), or maybe you start to second guess your choice of cars. If only you’d bought something...

It's easy to forget that amongst all the engine and chassis testing, selecting seats and trim and designing the interior and exterior, automakers also have to spend time developing in-car audio systems for the millions of drivers who listen to their favorite tunes on the way to work. Chevrolet has...

We've talked a lot about the chilly reception Google Street View has gotten overseas. And yesterday, tech reporters were all a-flutter with reports that Google is losing ground to Microsoft's Bing in the search wars. Now comes news that Bing is bringing its Street View competitor, Streetside, to...

If you have engine problems, get a flat tire or run out of gas, a new iPhone app from Infiniti can help you with that, as long as you own a new or certified pre-owned Infiniti vehicle. Infiniti, in cooperation with Cross Country Automotive Services, is announcing their free roadside assistance app...

There may be life in the old dog yet - engines have never been the cleanest of machines, requiring fossil fuels for their power and releasing all manner of gases, elements and chemicals through the combustion process. Carmakers have come on in leaps and bounds over the last few decades to make the...

Last week, we told you about the Connected Vehicle Challenge, a contest sponsored by the Department of Transportation that aims to find creative, useful applications of short range communications technology. The DOT isn't ponying up any money for the six finalists of that challenge, but they're...

With MINI and Fiat taking the retro approach and Mazda and Ford going for youthful and fun, how do you make your new small car stand out in the marketplace? If you're Mercedes-Benz about to sell the latest generation of A-Class compact in the U.S, you go down the high technology route and cut a...

We've seen a handful of apps for classic car aficionados, and we've seen apps for insurance quotes and claims, but until now, we haven't seen those two services combined in one handy format. Enter the Classic Car Guide for iPhone and iPad. The Classic Car Guide lets fans of vintage rides search for...

Another day, another material that could lead to lighter vehicles of the future. The latest candidate? Magnesium. Magnesium componentry in cars is nothing new of course. Magnesium alloy wheels are popular in the motorsport world where light weight and impressive strength are paramount. Now...

There's an automotive buzzword that's becoming ever more popular, and it's killing our cars ride quality. That word is "sporty". "Sporty" means lower suspension, bigger wheels, lower profile tires and uncompromising seats, and it's splashed liberally throughout virtually any model range you care to...